Never one to stand in the way of antiquated technology, fossil fuel-supporting former prime minister Tony Abbot has now turned his attention to shark nets, calling for them to be reinstated on the NSW North Coast.
A third trial of the nets, due to start this month, was cancelled by DPI amidst a groundswell of public opinion against them.
In two trials they were shown to have an unacceptably high level of ‘bycatch’, including endangered species, many of which were found dead.
But the Warringah silver surfer told Sydney’s radio 2GB the Coalition state government’s decision was one he would expect from the Greens and demanded that the nets be returned.
‘If the meshing nets, which have done such a great job of Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle beaches for about 80 years are good for those beaches,’ Mr Abbott said ‘let’s see those beaches – er those meshing nets – extend to the North Coast.’
North Coast beaches are currently protected by the vastly superior new technology of smart drumlines, which allow sharks to be tagged and re-released, while causing minimal damage to other marine species.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
